Researching and finding out about famous film noir directors.

I mentioned in my previous post that it would be a good time right now to find out about the people who make these films. I have tried to cut my list of directors down to the most famous as they might have a more variety of film noirs to look at. But on contrast, it would be interesting to look at film makers who weren't that famous or successful and why. I have added in helpful hyperlinks that give information on the film noirs mentioned. So here are a some famous directors i have come across...

Alfred Hitchcock - He was born on the 13th August 1899 and died in 1980 and he was an English film maker and producer. After a very successful career in England making films with silence, thriller and psychological genres, he decided to pack up and move to Hollywood to further his experience and career. After a long time of making films, he created a distinct and recognisable way of moving the camera. He framed certain shots to make the audience feel surrounded and to maximise anxiety, fear or so the audience empathises with the characters and their situations. He did the film noirs; 'Notorious' (1946); 'Dial M For Murder' (1954) and A LOT more! I do need to check out these films just to see the comparison between them.

Nicholas Ray - He is best known for his creation of the film 'Rebel Without a Cause' (1955) staring the Marlboro man himself -  James Dean. He originally came from a radio background and then directed his one and only Broadway production 'Beggar's Holiday' in 1946. After this, he then created his first film noir - 'They Live By Night' (1949) it was notable for its extreme empathy on societies young outsiders and almost impressionistic ways. He also directed 'In a Lonely Place' (1950) and 'On Dangerous Ground' (1952).

Billy Wilder - He was born in 1906 and died 2002 and his career spanned more than 50 years with more than 60 films. Not all of them were film noirs but he is known for 'Double Indemity' (1944) which is in this genre. Wilder co-wrote and directed the very popular film noir 'Sunset Boulevard' (1950). He was oringinaly from Austria but fitted in well when he decided to further his career in Hollywood. The most famous films he directed were 'Some like it hot' (1959) and 'The Seven Year Itch' (1955) eventhough they werent film noirs.

Joseph H. Lewis - This American Director started to creat films in the 1940's by directing horror films like 'The Invisible Ghost' (1941). He then moved on to film noirs which resulted in 'Gun Crazy' (1950) which is about a dark romance involving a gun-obsession and is noted for it brilliant location photography. He also made the film noir 'So Dark the Night' (1946).